174 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Thanks for the heads up.

[HB]

Construction will be staring soon.
Final permitting and securement of sub contrators is taking place now.

4 Levels total with roof top parking

This will be the first site in Vicotria with LED site lighting.

[sdwright.vic]

A horrible waste of land...

[seymour201]

This will be the first site in Vicotria with LED site lighting.

Do you mean City of Victoria or Victoria area? Because the new Fortis office in Langford has LED site lighting and I'm sure there's others too, just drawing a blank.

[jonny]

A horrible waste of land...

How so? I think it's great that somebody bought this land and wants to convert it into a clean, modern, active, operating business from a derelict run down old building and parking lot.

Metro Toyota owns the land. This seems to be an appropriate area of town for a car dealership. It's along a major regional artery, there are other car dealers nearby, not to mention plenty of of other retail (shopping mall, Canadian Tire and auto parts stores). Seems like a reasonable use of land to me.

[aastra]

It looks like the building itself is going to be a long way from the sidewalk, no? Methinks this project represented a good opportunity to start tightening things up again in that part of town, so I think I'm disappointed about that aspect.

[VicHockeyFan]

It looks like the building itself is going to be a long way from the sidewalk, no? Methinks this project represented a good opportunity to start tightening things up again in that part of town, so I think I'm disappointed about that aspect.

It's a car dealership, your "window display" is your parking lot. That's how it's done.

[aastra]

In many lots (but not all) in Victoria, yep.

[Robb]

Not bad, but I don't think it contributes to the stated long term goal of the Mayfair area being an urban village.

[VicHockeyFan]

Not bad, but I don't think it contributes to the stated long term goal of the Mayfair area being an urban village.

They should put condos on the roof, over that roof parking!

[sdwright.vic]

They should put condos on the roof, over that roof parking!

This is exactly how I think this is a waste of land. It does not follow a vision. Its a boaring building!

[jonny]

This is exactly how I think this is a waste of land. It does not follow a vision. Its a boaring building!

From an architectural standpoint, sure it's nothing special, but so are all of the other buildings around there...I'm sure Metro Toyota doesn't think it's boring!

[aastra]

Its a boaring building!

It could be argued that introducing fancy architecture in that part of town would be like casting pearls before swine. In any event, the new building is sure going to hog a lot of land.

[LJ]

^lol

[Holden West]

From an architectural standpoint, sure it's nothing special, but so are all of the other buildings around there...I'm sure Metro Toyota doesn't think it's boring!

Victoria
Settling for Mediocrity since 1850

[jonny]

Victoria
Settling for Mediocrity since 1850

Right. Because Victoria is the only city in the world that has car dealerships.

[sdwright.vic]

From an architectural standpoint, sure it's nothing special, but so are all of the other buildings around there...I'm sure Metro Toyota doesn't think it's boring!

True... but this was / is an opportunity to change all that. Especially since we know the hotel next store is interested in redevelopment also (they where one of the players for the land- but how do you out bid Jim Patterson?) I think more of an attempt could of been done here like the all indoor dealership with condos above (of course not as high) that was built in Vancouver.

http://www.mikestewa...on-developments

[Holden West]

Right. Because Victoria is the only city in the world that has car dealerships.

You miss my point. Beautiful, sophisticated urban car dealerships have been discussed on this forum before. For example, Berlin's dealerships are right up on the sidewalk:

http://www.liquid-bl...27Berlin017.jpg

Even the old Harris Chrysler building at Cook and Yates has a good urban showroom. Anything is better than looking at a sea of cars IMO.

[VicHockeyFan]

You miss my point. Beautiful, sophisticated urban car dealerships have been discussed on this forum before. For example, Berlin's dealerships are right up on the sidewalk:

http://www.liquid-bl...27Berlin017.jpg

Even the old Harris Chrysler building at Cook and Yates has a good urban showroom. Anything is better than looking at a sea of cars IMO.

I think the sea of cars, all lined up neatly, in all colours is a bit of a prestige thing. Buy from a dealer than only has 6 cars in his showroom, or buy from the guy that has 60 of each model? You might buy from the latter as he looks like he has money and is in it for the long run.

[sdwright.vic]

I think the sea of cars, all lined up neatly, in all colours is a bit of a prestige thing. Buy from a dealer than only has 6 cars in his showroom, or buy from the guy that has 60 of each model? You might buy from the latter as he looks like he has money and is in it for the long run.

You truly only have to display one of each model in only one colour. The other 59 can be stored in an underground vault. Imagine having only one car on display for test drives, then taken to a underground parkade to chose your colour. At least then every car isn't getting test drive mileage. Imagine the prestige of "so you like the model, let's go down to our vault and chose your colour.